The abnormal heatwave that hit Germany in June may have caused the deaths of about 5,100 people, according to preliminary findings by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), which published the results of modeling the consequences of extremely high temperatures. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
According to the institute's estimates, more than 4,300 people died in the country in the last week of June alone. Researchers note that the actual impact of the heat could be even more severe.
The German Federal Statistical Office estimated excess mortality between June 22 and 28 at approximately 6,800 cases. This means that several thousand more people died that week than expected under normal weather conditions.
The last week of June was record-breaking for Germany in terms of temperature. In some areas, the air warmed above 41 degrees Celsius. While such figures are not uncommon for Southern European countries, they were unprecedented for Germany.
The Robert Koch Institute reminded that the deadliest years of the last decade were 2018 and 2019, when heat, according to scientists, led to about 8,400 and 6,900 deaths, respectively. Between 2022 and 2025, the number of heat-related deaths was estimated to range from 2,600 to 4,900 cases per year.
Experts emphasize that high temperatures rarely become the direct cause of death. In most cases, heat exacerbates chronic diseases, leading to fatal outcomes.
According to the European Copernicus Climate Change Service, June 2026 was the hottest on record in Western Europe. The average air temperature was about 20.86°C, approximately three degrees above the climate norm for the period 1991–2020.